Resolution Opposing SB143

Board of County Commissioners Sign Resolution Opposing SB143

Posted on 03/14/2019

Minden NV-The Douglas County Board
of County Commissioners approved the adoption of Resolution 2019R- 011, a
resolution informing the 80th (2019) session of the Nevada State Legislature
that the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners opposes any state
legislation which exceeds federal firearm transfer requirements or infringes on
the United States Constitution or Article I, Section 11 of the Constitution of
the State of Nevada. The resolution was signed by all five commissioners during
a Special Meeting at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center on March
14, 2019. Residents packed the Community and Senior Center and spoke for over
two hours in public comment.

Last
month, both the Senate and Assembly of the 2019 Nevada legislature passed
Senate Bill 143, which is described as, "an act relating to firearms;
repealing, revising and reenacting provisions relating to background checks for
certain sales or transfers of firearms; prohibiting a fee from being charged
for certain background checks; requiring a licensed dealer of firearms to
conduct a background check before a private party sale or transfer in certain
circumstances; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto" ("SB 143"). On February 15, 2019, Governor
Steve Sisolak signed SB 143 into law with an effective date of January 2, 2020.

The
Douglas County Board of County Commissioners have received extensive public
comment from local residents opposing SB 143, including the requirement that
licensed firearms dealers conduct a background check before most private-party
firearm transfers. Douglas County residents have expressed concerns that SB
143, which exceeds the federal firearm transfer requirements, infringes upon
their Second and Fourth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution
as well as their rights under Article I, Section 11 of the Constitution of the
State of Nevada. Resolution 2019R-011 is intended to convey and support these
concerns regarding the Constitutionality of SB 143 to the 2019 Nevada
legislature.